A new CD with frottole and villotte about folk themes and figures, later destined to become stock characters of the Commedia dell’Arte, of late 15th – Century: Scaramella/Scaramouche (a lampoon soldier), the lanzo or captain, the vecchia maladetta e rincagnata (a “wretched, pug-nosed old hag” who acts either as procuress or as an obstacle to love), Giannolo/Zano and Rosina (the lovers), La Ramacina (the unhappy wife), Il vecchio maladeto (the villainous old man: an unnamed forerunner of Pantalone) and Feragu (an unregenerate Don Giovanni). These figures, who appear in the interludes of the comedies and tragedies performed during festive gatherings at the great courts, first tell their stories and then perform dances such as the ballo del mattarel (“rolling pin dance”) or the mazacrocha ( “breadstick dance”) and, above all, moresche (mauresques), performed at all Renaissance banquets and in the interludes of comedies as a pretext for travesty and transformation, giving rise to the symbolic portrayal of an exotic world revolving around play, love, war and the derision of power.
A new recording full of colours, rhythm and……lies!
PerformersPatrizia Bovi voice superius musical conductorGoffredo Degli Esposti pipe and tabor, pipe and psaltery, renaissance italian bagpipe Gabriele Russo viola da brazzo, rebecEnea Sorini voice bassus, percussionsSimone Sorini voice tenor, cantore on luteOlivier Marcaud voice contratenor altusLeah Stuttard harp Crawford Young lute, vihuela da manoGabriele Miracle dulcimer, percussionsGianni La Marca tenor viol